New Deal for Business: principles

These principles provide the long-term foundation for business and the Scottish Government to work together to seize the economic and wider opportunities arising from policies in development.

To strengthen working relationships between business and government we collectively commit to:

• mutual respect
• meaningful communication
• evidence-based decision making
• awareness and understanding
• consistency

What these principles mean in practice

Mutual respect

We will seek to understand and take account of each other’s priorities, wider socio-economic context, practical experience, data and opinions on matters relating to policy development that directly or indirectly impacts on business and the economy. We recognise that does not mean that the views of business and government will always align.

Meaningful communication

We will facilitate the timely exploration of policy issues to ensure “no surprises” and will underpin this with clear, timely and effective information and data sharing.

Scottish Government

This means early and repeated engagement with business and industry stakeholders at all stages of the policy process, recognising that co-production adds value. When considering new activity, policymakers across government will include business stakeholders in their engagement plans from the outset, undertaking their own engagement with the business community to ensure mutual understanding of impacts and input from a wide range of business community voices. This will provide opportunities for business to input to early policy development where that may impact on them and will avoid surprise and help mitigate concern about the potential business impacts of policies.

Business community

This means engaging fully in conversations around policy development, to support policymakers to engage more widely and improve communication with a range of businesses of all sizes, sectors and locations.

Evidence-based decision making

We will support data informed policymaking to optimise outcomes, particularly where there is a potential business impact. 

Scottish Government

Commits to setting out evidence of need for any action proposed.  If requirements are to be placed on business, voluntary action should be explored before regulation. Where no action will be taken or a different route chosen, policymakers will share the rationale and outcome with all of those who contributed views.

Business community

Commits to providing appropriate evidence to explain any anticipated impact or impediment to implementation, to inform policy development, recognising that lived experience adds value. This will ensure a shared understanding of activity already being undertaken by business, and the impacts of any proposals.

Collective awareness

We will consider the wider landscape when looking at individual policies.  This includes, but is not limited to, organisational priorities, risks to delivery, unintended consequences and cumulative impact.

Scottish Government

Will take an across the organisation view of policy development, including any new policy design, development, implementation and review of existing policy that has a direct or indirect impact on business.  Policy makers will take into account risks to implementation and potential cumulative impact, seeking to mitigate where possible

Business community

Commits to engaging positively with policymakers to ensure policymaking is evidence based and informed by expert insight.  This includes consideration of implementation practicalities, unintended consequences or any other potential impediment to implementation and policy outcomes.

Consistency

We will make the best use of the tools and advice available to co-design effective policies that deliver the desired outcomes.

Scottish Government

Commits to a consistent approach to involving business in policymaking, through application of the best practice policy cycle and engagement toolkit. Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments will be completed in all circumstances where engagement has highlighted that there may be direct or indirect impacts on business. This will ensure all practical implications of implementation are understood and there are no unintended consequences of policy changes. 

Business community

Commits to ensuring it engages with policy makers when approached, and to constructively encourage and support process changes to enable policymakers to ensure a breadth of businesses can feed into policy conversations.